NBA Rumors: Adding Jeremy Lin to All-Star Weekend Would Be Shameless, but Fun

If "Linsanity" is short lived, the NBA is surely going to milk every dime out of it. From a business standpoint, I can't argue with them. Frank Isola of the NY Daily News has reported that the NBA is attempting to get Jeremy Lin to participate in All-Star Weekend.

No, his participation won't be in the three-point shootout. Despite his sick game-winner against the Toronto Raptors, he's only shooting 25 percent from the arc.

No, he wouldn't be in the Slam Dunk contest, though he can throw it down, he doesn't have contest-worthy hops. And even with his recent stellar play, he hasn't been at it long enough to be an All-Star.

The NBA has other plans according to Isola:

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The NBA is hoping to add Lin to its All-Star lineup by having him participate in the Haier Shooting Stars competition during All-Star Saturday night. The competition features one current NBA player, one current WNBA player and one TNT on-air talent and legend on each team.

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It's an obvious attempt to capitalize on Lin's tremendous popularity. While the NBA and it's affiliate networks won't be able to command Super Bowl level ad spot prices, Lin's presence may just drive that cost up a bit.

The viewers, and the different demographics of casual fans that may tune in, just to get their bit of Linsanity, should prove quite profitable for the league and network.

I admit, I will be watching as well. It won't be just for Lin, but I'd be lying if I said I won't pay extra attention when it's his turn to shoot the rock.

Lin's popularity is not all positive. It has ranged from the negative, to the skeptical, to the "Linsane."

Here are some of the tweets about this NBA phenomenon:

Could that really be true? Stefan Bondy of the NY Daily News quoted Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets as follows when he was asked about Lin:

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Why would we get excited about the Knicks? We're 8-21, I'm worried about us, not what Jeremy Lin's doing,

What phenomenon

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Obviously, he didn't make it racial, as Floyd Mayweather did, but he did seem a bit miffed by the media reaction.

This is obviously someone who should be "Lin-stitutionalized." This type of comment is exactly what draws the ire of players and dedicated basketball people.

Very fun, and one of my favorite Lin related tweets.

Oh, good one, J.A. The revenue that Lin is generating is enormous. It's nearly impossible for the NBA to properly compensate him for what he's created from a financial standpoint. 

Chances are he may never play to the level that gets him a $18 million contract; but you can bet, by the time this year is over, the NBA will have profited off of Linsanity more than they have off of LeBron James, Derrick Rose or Kobe Bryant.

This obviously IS NOT the Twitter account of the real Mike D'Antoni, but it sure is the sentiments of several Lin supporters.

Positive or negative, everybody's talking, and in turn, everyone will be watching. 

I guess that's the whole point.